Recently, I took a trip to NY where I lost all my keys including the ones to my '99 Ford 150. I called my Ford Dealer thinking I could get a replacement from them but was told that my vehicle must be towed to DEALER to get a "programmed key" made. I thought this a little strange. Has anyone else ever lost keys and had this situation to occur?

Major

 

If your truck has the Passive anti theft system or PATS for short. You need a minimum of 2 programed keys to make another key.
Depending on the dealer, you get hosed here. I believe you are at the dealers mercy. If you have a spare key at home, make sure to ask the dealer if that key will work, if it will, have him make only one key. When you get home, go to the corner hardware store and have another key made. You can program it yourself with 2 programed keys. The instructions are in your owners manual. The trick to having PATS is, you should always have two spare keys, in order to make a replacement for a lost key.

If your truck does not have PATS, there should be no reason the local dealer can't make a key using your VIN.

Hope this helped....

Ed

 

yea im pretty sure they can cut new keys using the VIN number, i may be wrong though
good luck!

 

He does have PATS, so the dealer will be the only place to do it. You can get a key cut, but it won't start the engine. The keys themselves are about $16ea, but I do not know if the dealer can reprogram two new keys without the original. They can cut it, but not program them.

 

every new truck should come with a little bar code on a peice of plastic and placed in the manual or on the key chain. My truck came with 2 of them and the guy said if I ever loose a key or need another, I can use the paper to get a new key.

 

Originally posted by Green_98
yea im pretty sure they can cut new keys using the VIN number, i may be wrong though

Sure they can, but it'll be a "dumb" key. No chip.

 

This is why when I bought my truck I got an extra key and an extra alarm remote controller made.

 

Originally posted by hapynzap
This is why when I bought my truck I got an extra key and an extra alarm remote controller made.

I collect keys and remotes. Always learning the hard way..